Supermodel and wellbeing entrepreneur Elle Macpherson knows all about being a stickler for detail – here she explains how she manages that part of her personality and shares her tips for not letting perfectionism pull you down
Q: Dear Elle. I read in your book that your perfectionism has been both a positive and negative force in your life. Hard relate here! How can us perfectionists navigate this tendency? How can I stop sweating the small stuff? Nicole*
A: I have come to learn that perfectionism is a double-edged sword, both a blessing and a challenge. It can undermine confidence, awaken extreme feelings of self-criticism and of not feeling good enough, while also driving me to excel and have faith in the beauty of my journey. It can also inspire me to overcome little bugs in my armour, like for example, getting the gusto to deal with my natural nervousness earlier in my career.
Without doubt, there have been many instances that such perfectionism has proven beneficial in my life.
- Back in my days modelling for Sports Illustrated, at the start I was really leaning on the wisdom of the other, more experienced covergirls before me. Particularly Paulina Porizkova, who I would study in detail, finding everything I might require in order to get it right. This perfectionist streak ensured I wound up gracing that cover five times in total, a record for any model.
- Then there was my Friends TV era! [Elle starred in season 6 of the show, in 1999, as Joey’s girlfriend]. Studying in an almost manic fashion to learn all the lines but then pulling it off without a hitch.
- Working out which opportunities I’d decline, like deciding I would leave Ford Models to pursue entrepreneurship.
- Putting focused time into learning what my children needed from me, like the art of play.
At times my perfectionism meant that, although I saw myself as compromising things, I was also able to look more closely and find motivation in the benefits and the value in getting on with things so they could work out. Giving things a chance to work out proved to me that they actually would. Repeating this showed me it’s okay to relax my perfectionism a little, plus it allowed me to celebrate my successes — a very empowering practice; and a simple and pleasurable action which I previously didn’t allow myself because of my attachment to perfectionism.
Read the rest over here at Get the Gloss.